NOW I Paul myself
beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am
base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

2 But I beseech you, that I may not be
bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against
some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not
war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not
carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high
thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity
every thought to the obedience of Christ:

6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience,
when your obedience is fulfilled.

7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance?
If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this
again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

8 For though I should boast somewhat more of
our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your
destruction, I should not be ashamed:

9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify
you by letters.

10 For his letters, say they, are
weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and
his speech contemptible.

11 Let such an one think this, that, such as
we are in the word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also
in deed when we are present.

12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number,
or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves
by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

13 But we will not boast of things without our
measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed
to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our
measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to
you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:

15 Not boasting of things without our measure,
that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is
increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,

16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond
you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our
hand.

17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the
Lord.

18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved,
but whom the Lord commendeth.